Gyroscope-spinning mechanism.



H. W. SHONNARD.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

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H. W. SHONNABD.

GYRCSGOPE SPINNING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED mus. m1.

' Patented Mar. 4,1919.

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H. W. SHONNARD. GYRQSCOPE SPINNING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1917- Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

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INVENTR WITNESSES WWW,

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

HAROLD w. SHONNAED, 0E UPPER MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, AssIcNoE T0 CRUCIBLE STEEL COMPANY OF AMERICA, 01? PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A

OF NEW JERSEY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD W. SHON- NARD, residing at Upper Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, a citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Gyroscope-Spinning Mechanism, of which improvements the following is a-speoification. I

My invention relates to gyroscopes, par ticularly such as are used in connection with steering mechanism for automobile torpedoes, and the object thereof isto provide a simple, effective and practical spring motor mechanism for spinning the gyroscope rotor to a high velocity. A more specific object is'to provide a spring motor mechanism for the purpose described, which, at the completion of the spin, is automatically moved out of the range of the movement of the gyroscope.

Inthe accompanying sheets of drawings which form part of my specification, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention. Figure 1 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the gyroscope and spinning mechanism, the plane of view being indicated by the line I-I, Fig. 2; Figs. 2 and 3 are, respectively, plan and right end views thereof; and Fig.4 a detail sectional view taken on the line IVIV, Figs; 1 and 3.

While my invention is applicable to various forms and types of gyrosoopes, it is illustrated herein in connection with a gyroscope adapted to control the steering mechanism of an automobile torpedo. The gyro scope shown herein comprises a rotor 1, an inner gimbal 3 in which the rotor ismount ed, and an outer gimbal 4 in which the inner gimbal is mounted and which, .in turn, is pivotally mounted in suitable supports 5 and 6 secured to the housing or frame 7. As will be readily understood, the pivot axis of the gimbal 4 is likewise the axis of the gyroscope. Any well known or preferred form of controlling mechanism may be associated with the gyroscope that shown herein mounted on the frame 7 being the same as is shown and described in my pending application, Serial No. 171,045, filed of even date herewith.

The spinning mechanism which I provide (and it is with such mechanism that my invention is primarily concerned) includes Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 25, 1917. Serial No. 171,046.

CORPORATION G-YROSCOPE-SPINNING MECHANISM.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

a movably mounted spring motor and a driving member secured thereto and adapted to be associated with the gyroscope for spinning it, and with such mechanism there are associated means for winding the spring motor, means effective upon the spinning of the gyroscope for moving the mechanism from spinning position, and means for returning the motor to spinning position.

In the practice of my invention the several stated elements may be variously constructed and variously arranged with relation to each other and to the gyroscope; however, they are preferably combined "in asingle unit which is movable laterally to and from the gyroscope. To such end the unit is suitably mounted in top and bottom blocks 8 and 9 provided with tongues 10 whereby they are slidably mounted in the housing or frame 7 Fig. 3.

The spring motor preferably comprises a coil spring ll surrounding a sleeve 12 and secured at its lower end to the block 9 and at its upper end to a driving or spinning member in the form of a bell pinion 13,

which may be attached to or formed integrally with the sleeve 12, and whichiis feathered thereto a pinion 16 adaptedito mesh with a pinion 17 keyed to the sleeve.

That the number of spring-winding turns given to the sleeve. 12 may be definitely limited, the shaft 14 has screw-threadedlengagement with a frame 18 secured to the block 9, and the end of the shaft is provided with a nut or an equivalent adjustable but temporarily fixed stop 19, which, when the shaft has been given the required number of turns, is brought up against the top of the frame 18 and thereby prevents further turning of the shaft and consequent winding of the. spring 11.

For locking the spring motor against unwinding, there is preferably secured to the mounting block 9 a spring pressed .pawl 20 (Fig. 4) adapted to engage the pinion 17, and provided with an arm 21. This arm is adapted to be moved, and through its movement the pawl tripped, by means of a plunger rod 22 mounted in a cylinder 23 and adapted to be moved outwardly by means o f compressed air or other motive while the spinning mechanism moves later?" manner pres-- ally-from the gyroscope in a ently to be explained. r

lVhile various instrumentalities may be provided for movingthe spinning 1nechanism from the gyroscope upon the spinning,

thereof- 1; preferably provide spring impelled rack-and-pinion mechanism. In the illustrative; embodiment of this part of my invention, a shaft 275 isarranged within and coaxially with the sleeve 12 and is provided 1 at its upper'and lower ends with pinions 26 and 27, which mesh with racks 28 and 29 .se- .cured. to the frame or support This shaft is rotatablymounted in the shdable blocks,-

8 and 9.: Surrounding the shaft there is a spring 30 secured at its opposite ends to sleeves 31and 32, the former being keyed to the shaft-and the latter secured in any desired manner-tothe slidable mounting block 9. For-simultaneously. winding the spring the spinning thereof, I preferablyprovide 30 and moving-the spinning, mechanismto its operative position'indicated in the drawings, the lower end of the shaft, is provided with a wrench head 33. v

It will bennderstood that, when the spinning mechanism is in its operative position, the spring .30 will continually exert its tension upon the pinion shaft 25 and thus tend to cause such shaft to rotate and thereby move such mechanism from the gyroscope. To resist .such functioning of the spring until the. gyroscope has been spun, there is providedza-lock preferably in the form of spring-pressed bell crank levers 34:, 35 pivotally mounted on the block 8, Fig. 2'. The

arms 34 of such levers are adapted to engage notches 36 formed in the supporting frame 7 and the arms35 to be engaged by a tripping member or block'37 movable by the spinning mechanism. Preferably the tripping member is slidably mounted in the block 8 and is provided 011 its lower face "with suitable grooves adapted to receive a spiral thread38 formed on the top of the bell 13. It will be understood that, prior to the spinning operation, this tripping member will be in a position to the right of that indicated in Fig. 1, and that the rotation of the bell 13 will cause such member to move toward and'finally engage and'trip the arms 35 of the bell crank levers, thereby releasing the spinning mechanism sothat it may 'move in response to the tension of the spring 30.

For stopping the movement from the gyroscope of the spinning mechanism, the upper end. of the shaft 25 is preferably provided with afinger 45 (Fig. 2), which, as the bell. I

- scope-locking position.-

smamta ata was i'aerni stages a stop 46 "secured to the frame 7. The relative positions of this finger-and "stop are such that they will arrest the lateral jmovement of the spinningmechanlsm or unit when such un t has, under the action of the spring 30,

;The apparatus also includes means for stopping the rotation of the spinning bell after the mechanism, in its lateral movementv from the gyroscope,-.has become disconnected from the gyroscope; For the purpose the. periphery of the top; horizontal portion of. the bell 13 may, asshown in Fig. 2, be provided with a lug 42 adapted to-strike against been moved clear of the range of movement of the gyroscope.

a depending abutment 43 formed on the slid- 1 ing member 37; The arrangementand coordination of the parts are such -that, dur ing'the rotation of the Ebell,--the slide member 37 will first, have been-brought tosuch 1 position as to tripthe levers 35, 36 to cause the spinning.mechanism to move laterally,

and that thereafter the lugfil2 will strike. the abutment. l3-to stop the rotation of the To look the gyroscope-prior to and during 1 an arm. 39 secured to-arotatably mounted shaft 40, which, in suclrmanner as, to hold the arm yieldingly toward the gyroscope, is

acted upon by a spring ;4=1.-It willbe seen that the upper end ofthearm projects with-- s gaged by the bell and moved froln-its gyro- In describing the operation first that the spinning mechanismis'in posi-v Preferably the first step in setting the mechanism is'the of myuinven- 11011 as illustrated here1n,;1t will be assumed winding of the spring 11. For this purpose. the head 15 of shaft 14 isengaged .byra suitable wrench and. theshaftrotated until its stop 19 is brought-up against-the frame 18,

it being understood that, prior to such winding, the shaft 14 is in a positionabovethat indicated in Fig. .1. Thedriving conned 'tions for winding this spring include the pinions 16 and 17 and the. sleeve12, and't'he thus. releasing the levers 35-, 36 so that they may properly function when the spinning mechanism is moved toward the gvroscope.

The next step in the setting of the spinning mechanism is the rotation-of theshaft 25, whereby the spring-301B wound, and,"

through pinions 26 and 27 and racks 28 and .29, the Inechanismis moved toward the gyroscope until the teeth of the bell 13 are in a position to mesh with the p1n1on 2 of the rotor 1, at which position it will be held by the levers 34:, 35 engaging the notches 36 of the frame. The gyroscope and locking arm 39 'may then be manipulated to bringsuch parts into the positions indicated. in Fig. 1.

The several parts being thus arranged and adjusted'the spinning mechanism is released by flow of pressure fluid to the cylinders 23. (Fig. 4), which moves the plunger 22 outspring 30 to eXert its tension on the shaft 25 to cause it to rotate and thereby move the mechanism from the gyroscope, the rotation of the shaft being arrested by the finger 45 engaging the stop 46 after the mechanism has moved far enough from the gyroscope to permit it to function freely, in its intended manner. The continued rotation of the bell 13 moves the tripping or slide member 37 farther to the left, thereby bringing its depending abutment 43 in the path of the lug 42 formed on the bell, so that, when such lug strikes the abutment, the rotation of the bell will be stopped.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle and operation of my invention together with the construction which I now consider represents the best embodiment thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that my invention may be practised by other forms of construction than that particularly shown and described.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination'with a gyroscope, of

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motor and a member secured thereto for making driving connections with said gyroscope, and means effective upon the spinning of the gyroscope to move said mechanism including the spring motor from the gyroscope.

2. The combination with a gyroscope in-' cluding a rotor provided with a spinning pinion, of spinning mechanism comprising a spring motor and a bell-shaped gear secured thereto and adapted to mesh with said rotor pinion, and means efiective upon the spinning of the gyroscope to move said mechanism from the gyroscope.

3. The combination .with a gyroscope, of spinning mechanism comprising a spring motor and a rotary member secured thereto for making driving connections with the gyroscope, said mechanism being slidably mounted to move laterally with respect to the gyroscope, and means effective upon the spinning of the gyroscope to move said mechanism from the gyroscope.

4. The combination with a gyroscope, of spinning .mechanism comprising a spring motor and a member secured thereto forv mak-ing driving connectlons with the gyroscope, means effective upon the spinning of the gyroscope to move said mechanism from the gyroscope, and means for moving said mechanism in the opposite direction.

5. The combination with a gyroscope, of spinning mechanism comprising a spring motor and a member secured thereto for making driving connections with the gyro I scope, a spring impelled mechanism for an tomatically moving said spinning mechanism from the gyroscope upon the spinning thereof.

6. The combination with a gyroscope, of spinning mechanism comprising a spring motor and ,a member secured thereto for making driving connections with the gyroscope, spring impelled mechanism for automatically moving said spinning mechanism from the gyroscope, means for locking said moving mechanism, and means effective upon the spinning of the gyroscope for releasing said locking means.

7. The combination with a gyroscope, of spinning mechanism comprising a spring motor and a member secured thereto for making driving connection with the gyroscope, spring impelled mechanism for moving said spinning mechanism from the gyroscope, a lock for restraining the operation of said moving mechanism and a movable member coordinated with said spring mechanism for releasing said lock.

8. The combination with a gyroscope, of spinning mechanism comprising a spring motor and a member secured thereto for making driving connections with the gyroscope, spring impelled mechanism for automatically moving said spinning mechanism from the gyroscope, and manually operable means for moving said spinning mechanism in the opposite direction.

9. The combination with a gyroscope, of spinning mechanism comprising a spring motor and a member secured thereto for making driving connections with the gyroscope, said mechanism being mounted to move laterally with respect to the gyroscope, and spring impelled rack-and-pinion connections for effecting said movement of the 11. The combination with a gyroscope, of a spinning unit therefor slidably mounted for lateral movement to and from spinning position; said unit comprising a spring motor, spring impelled rack-and-pinion connections for moving said unit from the gyroscope, means for restraining said movement of the unit, and means effective upon the spinning operation of the spring motor for releasing said restraining means.

12. The combination with a'gyroscope, of a spinning unit therefor slidably mounted for lateral movement to and from spinning position; said unitoomprising a spring motor, spring impelled rack-and-pinion connections for moving said unit from the gyroscope, a releasable lock for restraining said movement of the unit, and a movable member coordinated with said spring motor for releasing said lock.

13. The combination with a gyroscope, of a supporting frame, a block slidaloly mounted thereon. a shaft rotatably mounted in said block and provided with a pinion, a rack secured to saidframe and'mes hing with said pinion, a spring motor gyroscopespinning mechanism mounted on said shaft, and-means for turning said shaft for moving said mechanism.

14. The combination with a gyroscope,

of a supporting frame, a block slidably mounted thereon, a shaft rotatably mounted in-said block and provided with a pinion, a rack secured to said frame and meshing with said pinion, =a -spr-i'ng motor gy ro'scope spinning mechanism mounted on said-shaft, said spring-exerting its tension on said shaft for the rotation thereof, and releasable means for restraining such rotation.

15. The combinatlon with a gyroscope,

J of a supporting frame, a' block slidably mounted thereon, a shaft rotata-hly mounted in said block and provided with a pinion,

a rack securecl' to said frame and meshing with said pinion, 'a springsurrounding said shaft and exertingits tension ther'eon'for thread engagement W'ith said spinning gear,

said meniberbeing adapted upon the rotationof the spinning gear to trip saidf-lev'e'r.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand.

v HAROLD W. SHONNARD.

Witnesses:

"G120. V; JAMEs, HnRMA-N C. ENGELMAN.

Copies of this p'atent may be obtained for 'fiifecentsteach, by addressing the Commissioner ot ilatencs,

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